Dr. Jessica LoPresti, Ph.D.
Co-founder & Chief Medical Officer
It’s Black History Month, and we must know our worth.
It can be extremely challenging to recognize our worth, the worth of our community, and the worth of our existence when our contributions are consistently minimized and undermined. This is a time to stand tall, stand strong, and know our worth. Here are a few things to focus on in the coming days, weeks, and months.
Gratitude
Gratitude is directly linked to wellness. It’s a practice that trains our minds to broaden our perspective, notice the things that bring us joy, and appreciate what makes our lives better—people who lift us up, waking up in the morning, the ability to move our bodies, the beauty and strength of our community, the contributions and sacrifices of our ancestors, our ability to resist, and our faith.
Gratitude does not overshadow our commitment to change or the pain we have endured. Instead, it allows us to make room for more and helps us find the strength to move forward.
Community Building
This is a time for connection. Often, when things are hard, our first impulse is to turn inward and distance ourselves from others. While this may feel like protection, it also prevents us from forming connections, receiving support, feeling understood, and knowing we are not alone in our struggles.
Make sure you are intentionally reaching out to those who nourish you. Make a phone call, send an email, grab coffee with a friend, or attend an event with like-minded people. This is a time for connection and community building—you won’t regret it!
Compassion
We are in unprecedented times, and it can feel like we are drinking from a firehose in terms of threats to our livelihood. Challenging emotions like stress, sadness, anger, hopelessness, and helplessness are natural human responses to this environment. We must make room for these emotions—lean into them. The more space we create for our emotions, the less power they have over us.
Compassion helps ease the overwhelming nature of our emotions and allows us to make thoughtful decisions about how to move forward. Be kind to yourself. Spread kindness to others. Compassion is the key to wellness.
Focus on Your Wellness
Our most pressing task as individuals and as a community is to focus on our wellness. Choose one or two aspects of your wellness to prioritize in the coming weeks. Make a concrete plan with actionable steps toward these wellness goals. Schedule a primary care appointment, move your body daily, download the WhiteFlag app, make an appointment with a therapist, or reach out to a friend or family member.
We must intentionally and vigorously prioritize our wellness and remind others to do the same.
Know Your Worth
Your very existence, the way you move through the world, and the communities you belong to are all gifts. Know your worth.
As always, the WhiteFlag community is here for you.
-Dr. Jess
_________
Connect with someone who understands on WhiteFlag: a free, anonymous, peer support network. Now!
Your feedback matters! Share what you think.
Comentarios